Today the Department of Commerce released its Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2014 to 2018. The five-year plan, along with the recently released FY15 budget, provides the pathway for meeting the Department’s long-term goals and objectives. The plan, summarizes the key strategies and initiatives that will drive progress in the Department’s five priority areas:

Trade and Investment. Expanding the U.S. economy through increased exports and foreign direct investment that leads to more and better American jobs.

Innovation. Fostering a more innovative U.S. economy—one that is better at inventing, improving, and commercializing products and technologies that lead to higher productivity and competitiveness.

Data. Improve government, business, and community decisions and knowledge by transforming Department data capabilities and supporting a data-enabled economy.

Environment. Ensuring communities and businesses have the necessary information, products, and services to prepare for and prosper in a changing environment.

Operational Excellence. Delivering better services, solutions, and outcomes that benefit the American people.

The creation of the strategic plan was a collaborative effort involving staff from every Department of Commerce bureau and serves as a foundation for economic growth and opportunity. The plan is in direct alignment with the “Open for Business Agenda,”which reflects the Department’s role as the voice of business, and the Administration’s focus on economic growth and job creation. Department leaders and employees will use this plan to transform strategies into actions, and actions into results.